Searching for the soft underbelly of the market.

Question corner: Searching for the soft underbelly of the market.

I'd like to buy, but I don't want to get into a bidding war or pay too much. Are there any places around here where it's easier to buy?

You'll be glad to hear that the short answer is "yes". But the full answer—"yes, but always for good reasons"—should make you think twice.

With so many buyers scouring our little corner of paradise for homes, your chances of finding an under-priced, overlooked gem of a neighborhood are nil. Lower prices mean lower demand for an area, and that means just one thing: homebuyers are paying less because they're getting less.

Put another way, you get what you pay for, and you don't get what you don't pay for. That's fair, but no bargain. And even then, plenty of buyers are competing for homes in lesser neighborhoods, since that's all many can afford.

But you're onto something: buying is less competitive in some neighborhoods than others. How do you find these "easy" neighborhoods? Here's how.

Zero in on cities where every house and neighborhood looks much the same, and where no neighborhood offers the outstanding amenities that make it a "must have"
Avoid cities with a vibrant downtown or, ideally, any downtown
Insist on schools with low test scores
Stay as far as possible from cities like San Francisco known for their cultural and recreational amenities
Head deep into the hills, far away from shopping, services, medical care—anything that might come in handy, especially at two o'clock in the morning
Or go to the other extreme, and gravitate to neighborhoods near heavily-trafficked urban freeways

Of course, each rule has its exceptions. One suburb can be further from big city attractions than another, yet sell for more because it offers more local amenities and better ambience. Some older upscale neighborhoods are within earshot of busy freeways. Top-end towns often have little or no shopping, but their residents don't miss the noise and traffic that shoppers bring.

But you get the idea. The "easy" neighborhoods are the ones that buyers want less. But with demand as high as it is, plenty of buyers want even those neighborhoods.